September 2, 2011
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Dear Parents:
First, let me again thank you for the privilege of getting to participate in the education of your child[ren]. Your commitment to Catholic education is much appreciated.
I write today concerning a matter that impacts our school, our teachers and you as a supporter of our school and as a tuition paying parent. As you may be aware, the collective bargaining agreement with the Federation of Catholic Teachers (the "Federation"), the union that represents the teachers in our school, expired on August 31, 2011.
Unfortunately, after four months of negotiations with the Federation, we have been unable to reach an agreement. Not surprising in these extremely trying economic times, the key issue is wages and the corresponding salary cost/expense for the schools. While the proposal made by the schools is somewhat complex due to the various components that go into a teacher's salary – a Step component (or sometimes referred to as a longevity increase – a built-in increase based on years of service); a Parity component and an across-the-board increase – the fact is that under the school's proposal an average teacher's wages will increase by approximately 2.7% for the 2011/2012 school year and 3.7% for the 2012/2013 school year.
While I wish we could pay more, I think you will agree with me that in these economically trying times increases of 2.7% and 3.7% are extremely generous. I know that many of you are not receiving these levels of increases at your job. I can also share that all other Archdiocese employees have been subject to wage freeze for 2011/2012.
I know that many of you cannot afford increases in tuition that will be necessary to pay for increases of this level – let alone the increases that would be necessary based on the additional 2% to 2.25% the union is asking for on top of what we have offered.
In closing, please know that I will do everything I can to ensure that a new collective bargaining agreement is reached – but not at the expense of seeing additional schools forced to close and/or seeing more children forced out of Catholic education to pay for unrealistic salary increases.
| | Very truly yours, Superintendent of Schools Archdiocese of New York |
